First Local Lightning II Flight

Photo by Samuel King, Jr.

The 33d Fighter Wing at Eglin AFB, Florida, the F-35 Integrated Training Center, flew its first local Lightning II sortie on 6 March 2012. US Air Force Lt. Col. Eric Smith, director of operations for the 58th Fighter Squadron, was the pilot of the F-35 (Air Force serial number 08-0750). An F-16 chase plane was piloted by Lt. Col. Lee Kloos, the 58th FS commander. During the flight, a small amount of fluid was observed venting from the F-35. Smith, following standard procedures, returned safely back to base after a twenty minute flight. The wing will begin to slowly build up F-35 flights with an initial goal of flying twice a week and then steadily increasing the sortie count.